Departure Tax
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Melbourne, Vic, Australia
Posts: 28
Departure Tax
I apologise if this doesn't appear in the right forum and would appreciate it if someone could direct me to the correct area should this be the case.
I am looking at using some of my points for a RTW trip later this year. As this will involve me booking through the airline directly I am unsure as to what departure taxes I will be up for. Is there a site where I can look these amounts up?. Thanks.
I am looking at using some of my points for a RTW trip later this year. As this will involve me booking through the airline directly I am unsure as to what departure taxes I will be up for. Is there a site where I can look these amounts up?. Thanks.
#2
Suspended
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Close to the beach
Programs: AA EP, UA 1K, DL GM, Tumlare Bussresor Super Class
Posts: 6,972
#3
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: USA
Posts: 1,307
thank you for the Cathay link...
Also, Indonesia, Taiwan, New Zealand(as well as Cooks Islands), and Australia require a tax on departure. Mexico did, not sure if they still do!? Not usually cheap, either, so keep that in mind. Sometimes, you have to pay in local currency, which is a pain...
Good luck with the RTW...
Also, Indonesia, Taiwan, New Zealand(as well as Cooks Islands), and Australia require a tax on departure. Mexico did, not sure if they still do!? Not usually cheap, either, so keep that in mind. Sometimes, you have to pay in local currency, which is a pain...
Good luck with the RTW...
#5
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend




Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: Atlanta, GA, USA
Programs: DL estranged 1MMer and lifetime gold, F9/CO/NW/UA/AA once gold/plat now dust, Spirit RIP
Posts: 42,192
Some of the Latin American countries are bad, as places like Brazil and Chile seem to be in a tit-for-tat reciprocity battle with the U.S., charging U.S. citizens what the U.S. charges their people because they think (with some justification) that our taxes are out of line. Most south and southeast Asian countries are still reasonable ($10-20). It'smore convenient to have the tax included than to pay in local currency at the airport, but I think people notice it more when they have to shell it out in cash and hopefully this provides added discipline against increases.
Be sure you get your money's worth out of the RTW. I once flew to Singapore and back (open jaw to Columbo) at 80K over the Atlantic. I asked about coming back over the Pacific (it's shorter, after all), but was told that'd qualify as an RTW and cost 130K miles. So I must've gone 2/3 of the way around the world in both directions to SAVE miles. Go figure.
Be sure you get your money's worth out of the RTW. I once flew to Singapore and back (open jaw to Columbo) at 80K over the Atlantic. I asked about coming back over the Pacific (it's shorter, after all), but was told that'd qualify as an RTW and cost 130K miles. So I must've gone 2/3 of the way around the world in both directions to SAVE miles. Go figure.
#6




Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: CHS
Programs: UA Premier, AA Gold, AC 25K, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton Gold
Posts: 2,144
I recently flew CX on free tix in F through HKG with an overnight there. When I checked in the next day in HKG, the agent told me that my wife and I had to pay a total of sixteen hundred $HKG (~200 $US) in departure taxes. When they told me this, I wasn't too happy and let them know. Luckily, it turned out to be a language problem. The agent meant one-hundred sixty, not sixteen hundred.
#7
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Arizona
Programs: MSP raised, Elite since age 17
Posts: 4,723
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Worldtraveler36:
Mexico did, not sure if they still do!</font>
Mexico did, not sure if they still do!</font>
#8



Join Date: Sep 1999
Location: New York
Posts: 3,383
The departure tax at Kansai intertional airport in Osaka, Japan, will be ticket-inclusive as of April 1, 2002.
I read in a paper HKG is considering adding a security surcharge in addition to the exisisting airport tax.
I read in a paper HKG is considering adding a security surcharge in addition to the exisisting airport tax.
#9


Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Charleston, SC, USA
Programs: Avis Pref+, Hyatt Explorist, Marriott Life Gold, Honors Silver, IHG Plat via MC.
Posts: 6,789
Mexico has had a US$20 tax ("XD") for years and has recently started a US$20 ("UK") tax, both of which are paid at ticket issuance & both of which also apply to free awards.
Now in Canada, Airport Improvement Fees are multiplying like rabbits. YVR, YUL: PAID AT AIRPORT in CAD or USD cash at proper ex. rate. AIF vending machines accept credit cards. YYC, YYJ (Victoria, BC): Included in ticket. YEG: How paid??
Now in Canada, Airport Improvement Fees are multiplying like rabbits. YVR, YUL: PAID AT AIRPORT in CAD or USD cash at proper ex. rate. AIF vending machines accept credit cards. YYC, YYJ (Victoria, BC): Included in ticket. YEG: How paid??
#10




Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Palm Beach/ New England
Programs: AA EXP 3MM, DL GM, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 4,459
It's been a while, but I once had to pay the "departure" tax when transiting YVR. It was a BOS-YVR-CLM itinerary, IIRC.
It had to be paid in Canadian dollars, and it had to be paid in cash. (At least that was what the rather bossy airport representative told me).
It had to be paid in Canadian dollars, and it had to be paid in cash. (At least that was what the rather bossy airport representative told me).
#11
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Sunnyvale, CA
Posts: 782
A few years ago, I was surprised during check in at Penang to show that I had paid the departure tax, since taxes at all other airports during my trip had been included in the ticket price.
So I asked where to pay that, and was then told that since it was Sunday, the departure tax counter was closed! So I asked, then what should I do? They ended up just letting me go.
So I asked where to pay that, and was then told that since it was Sunday, the departure tax counter was closed! So I asked, then what should I do? They ended up just letting me go.
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 1999
Posts: 12,097
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by RustyC:
Some of the Latin American countries are bad, as places like Brazil and Chile seem to be in a tit-for-tat reciprocity battle with the U.S., charging U.S. citizens what the U.S. charges their people </font>
Some of the Latin American countries are bad, as places like Brazil and Chile seem to be in a tit-for-tat reciprocity battle with the U.S., charging U.S. citizens what the U.S. charges their people </font>
#14
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: BKK when I'm not in Princeton
Programs: UA MP:1P for life, TG:Gold, CO:Gold
Posts: 2,017
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by RustyC:
<snip> seem to be in a tit-for-tat reciprocity battle with the U.S., charging U.S. citizens what the U.S. charges their people because they think (with some justification) that our taxes are out of line.</font>
<snip> seem to be in a tit-for-tat reciprocity battle with the U.S., charging U.S. citizens what the U.S. charges their people because they think (with some justification) that our taxes are out of line.</font>
#15
Original Member and FlyerTalk Evangelist




Join Date: May 1998
Location: Kansas City, MO, USA
Programs: DL PM/MM, AA ExPlat, Hyatt Glob, HH Dia, National ECE, Hertz PC
Posts: 16,619
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Brendan:
Now in Canada, Airport Improvement Fees are multiplying like rabbits. YVR, YUL: PAID AT AIRPORT in CAD or USD cash at proper ex. rate. AIF vending machines accept credit cards. YYC, YYJ (Victoria, BC): Included in ticket. YEG: How paid??</font>
Now in Canada, Airport Improvement Fees are multiplying like rabbits. YVR, YUL: PAID AT AIRPORT in CAD or USD cash at proper ex. rate. AIF vending machines accept credit cards. YYC, YYJ (Victoria, BC): Included in ticket. YEG: How paid??</font>
On the way out I was just stopped by a rude lady and asked for the AIF receipt. Again I had no idea what was going on and paid the $15 CDN ($10 USD, I think they accepted either) and did it.
I did not make the connection to the incident on the way in and the AIF thing until I was on the flight later that day. So, it seems to me that I either should have not had to pay on the way out (since I flew within 24 hours YHZ-YUL) or I should of had to pay on the way in ...

